Stamp Crazy with Alison!

Letters to Santa Class

Hello Stampers,

I know that it's only August 31st but Christmas will be here before we know it.  If you want to make some wonderful Christmas projects I encourage you to attend my Jingle and Mingle Stamp Camp this year.  We'll make some awesome Christmas themed projects - the date for this event is Saturday, October 22nd.  More details will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.  The day will be dividided into three individual classes and you can attend one, two or all three classes!

Here's a sneak peak of one of the classes..."Letters to Santa".

 

The beautiful patterns in the “Letters From Santa” DP and the greetings from the Merry & Type stamp set create a stunning Christmas combination. In this class you’ll learn how to create these four standard-sized cards and a matching basket to hold them in.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark October 15th at 10:30 am  down on your calendar and get a head start on your Christmas crafting! Price is $25 and includes all supplies including full colour instructions!

Do you want the instructions for free?  Place an order on my online shopping cart and receive the instructions via email for FREE - you provide the products to complete your projects at home.

Happy Stamping,

Alison

Kindness Matters Box

Hello Stampers,

Stamps
• Kindness Matters

Paper
• Crumb Cake Card Stock
• Lucky Limeade Card Stock
• Melon Mambo Card Stock
• Whisper White Card Stock
• Lucky Limeade Textured Card Stock

Ink
• Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin’ Pad®
• Melon Mambo Classic Stampin’ Pad
• VersaMark® Pad

Accessories
• Linen Thread
• Pearl Basic Jewels
• Extra-Large Tag Punch
• Fancy Flower Punch
• 1/16" Circle Punch
• Big Shot™
• Blossom Box Bigz™ L Die

Happy Stamping!

Alison

Congratulations Card

Hello Stampers,

My team and I had a wonderful day together on Saturday at my Convention in Vancouver event.  I'll be posting more details in the next few days but for today I'd like to share a simple card - I love the fresh crisp look of this type of card.

Stamps
• Friendly Phrases
• Good Grid

Paper
• Calypso Coral Card Stock
• Lucky Limeade Card Stock
• Pool Party Card Stock
• Whisper White Card Stock
• Wisteria Wonder Card Stock

Ink
• Calyspo Coral Classic Stampin’ Pad®
• Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Island Indigo Stampin’ Write® Marker

Accessories
• Island Indigo 5/8" Ruffled Ribbon
• In Color Designer Printed Brads
• Stampin’ Dimensionals®
• Blossom Bouquet Punch
• 1/16" Circle Punch
• Stamp-a-ma-jig

Happy Stamping,

Alison

Christmas is Coming

Hello Stampers,

I know it's only August but Christmas is coming fast and so is the date for the release of the new Holiday Mini Catalogue which is full of awesome products and project ideas.  Each year I offer a consulting service to my customers.  We get together for 1 1/2 to design your Christmas cards.  The fee for the service is $25, however if you order $100 or more then the fee is waived.  I just spent a lovely morning with two of my clients - Alison and Becci - and we designed two beautiful cards for them to send out to their family and friends.

Alison choose the Welcome Christmas stamp set which is highlighted in the card below (not Alison's card in case you are one of her friends).  Start thinking about getting your Christmas cards stamped and ready for mailing in the next few months.

Season’s Greetings card

 Stamps
• Welcome Christmas

Paper
• Crumb Cake Card Stock
• Old Olive Card Stock
• Very Vanilla Card Stock
• Real Red Textured Card Stock

Ink
• Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad®
• Real Red Stampin’ Write® Marker

Accessories
• Real Red 5/8” Satin Ribbon
• Linen Thread
• Brights Designer Buttons
• Mini Library Clips
• Stampin’ Dimensionals®
• Big Shot™
• Scallop Square Bigz™ Clear Die
• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• 2-1/2” Circle Punch

Happy Stamping!

Alison

Flowers!

Hello Stampers,

Tomorrow I'm getting together with my team of demonstrators and a few customers to celebrate Convention in Vancouver!  I'm bringing the thrills and excitement of Convention to my local members.  One of the projects my friend (and downline), Liane Binder, and I worked on was paper flowers.  The theme of our event is Grow and the Convention floor was all decked out with thousands of flowers.  Luckily Liane and I only had to make about 50 for our event.  It was so much fun!

Here's a fun flower project using paper and ribbon.  And the best part....the flowers never die!

Happy Stamping!

Alison

 

Just For You flowers

 Stamps
• Tagtastic Set

Paper
• Very Vanilla Card Stock
• Blushing Bride Textured Card Stock
• Lucky Limeade Textured Card Stock
• So Saffron Textured Card Stock
• Very Vanilla Textured Card Stock
• 2010-2012 In Color Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink
• Blushing Bride Stampin’ Write® Marker
• Island Indigo Stampin’ Write Marker
• Lucky Limeade Stampin’ Write Marker
• So Saffron Stampin’ Write Marker
• Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin’ Ink® Refill
• Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill

Accessories
• So Saffron 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon
• Linen Thread
• Subtles Designer Buttons
• Pearl Basic Jewels
• Stampin’ Dimensionals®
• Boho Blossoms Punch
• 1" Circle Punch
• 2" x 1/8" Oval Punch
• 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch
• Mod Podge®
• Floral wire
• Mason jar
• Sponge brush

 

 

Great Bows

Hello Stampers,

Each month I send out two newsletters to my customers. One brings you up to date on promotions offered by Stampin' Up! and announces my classes for the month. The second one is full of great samples using Stampin' Up! products. This month's newsletter has a great article written by my friend, Debbie O'Neill, on tying of bows. Besides opening a stamp pad this is the number one challenge my customers face. I hope you enjoy the article and if you want to receive my newsletter each month please sign up in the box in the right hand sidebar of this blog.

 Happy Stamping!

Alison

	Q: How do you tie great bows? I look at the catalogue and see perfect bows, but mine never turn out looking that nice. What’s the trick? A: There sure are some amazing bows out there! You are right — there are a couple of tricks. First of all, there are many ways to tie bows. I’ll share a quick tutorial below with one of my favourite bows! Second, knowing which types of ribbons work best with certain bows is a big help. And lastly, once you’ve learned about the first two tricks, the last trick is just good old fashioned practice!   Ribbons Picking the right ribbon for your size and type of bow is important. Our lovely 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon is ideal for bows on 3-D items, décor, and gifts. It can be used to make bows on cards that you intend to hand deliver, but is too bulky for standard mailing. Ribbons that are narrower and have a thinner, softer texture work best on cards you intend to mail. Ribbons like 1/2" Seam Binding, 3/8" Taffeta, 3/8" In Colors Ruffled, 1/4" Grosgrain, and 1/8" Taffeta make smaller bows with less bulk and work well for mailing. Ribbons like the 5/8" Satin, Crochet Trim, and 5/8" Organza can also work for cards you are mailing depending on the type of bow you tie.  Bows There are many different ways to tie bows. Some are basic bows like what you tie in your shoelaces, while some fancy bows can have double or triple loops. Some bows use a brad to hold the ribbon in place instead of a knot and other bows are tied around something, like fork tines, as a template. I’d be thrilled to teach you a variety of bow-tying techniques that you and your friends will love. One of the most popular I do at workshops is the “fork bow".  It always gets “oh’s, ahh’s, and wows"! Book a workshop with me this fall and we can plan to include some great bows in the demonstrations and make 'n’ takes. You and your friends will love knowing how to make a variety of bows for cards, scrapbooks, crafting, and even basic gift giving! The Elegant Bow is one of my favourites because it is easy, flat, and looks like you know a secret bow-tying trick, which you will! I’ve included a quick tutorial for you below that I hope you enjoy!  Elegant Bow Tutorial To create an Elegant Bow, you will need a 5" and a 2" strip of ribbon. 1. Lay a 5" piece of ribbon out flat. Add a dab of SNAIL to the center. 2. Fold in the right end of the ribbon and adhere to SNAIL. Add a dab of SNAIL on top of the ribbon end. 3. Fold in the left end of the ribbon and adhere to SNAIL. Add a dab of SNAIL on top of the ribbon end. 4. Place one end of a 2" piece of ribbon over the center of the folded ribbon creating an upside down “T" shape. Add a dab of SNAIL on top of the ribbon end that is over the folded ribbon. 5. Wrap 2" piece of ribbon around the folded ribbon until it overlaps and adheres to itself. Pull ribbon snug so it is flat, but not so tight that it causes the ribbon to gather. 6. Trim off excess ribbon. 7. The Elegant Bow is complete. Press it flat or push the ends gently to puff it up a bit based on your preference. Adhere the elegant bow to your project alone or layered on a strip of ribbon.   Summary I hope you enjoy creating the Elegant Bow. I’d love to teach you and your friends a whole variety of bows, tips, and tricks that will really add that extra-special touch to your cards, scrapbooks, décor, and other crafting projects. Contact me today to book your workshop and we can decide what types of bows will “wow" you and your friends with!
© CraftyPerson Production. Images © Stampin' Up!

Get Well Wishes

Hello Stampers,

Isn't this lovely!  It's a get well card from Farah (my able assistant) and it perked me up.

the saying says "I" is for ick - sorry you're sick. 

I love the new brad in the center of the flower!  Purple really is the new "in" colour!

 

 

 

 

 

 

One day I went outside to get the "mail" and instead of the usual junk and bills there was this amazing little purse (forgot to take photo and my battery is dead) that had 2 compartments.

In one was a Get Well card with some tea and a disk of E-books for me to read while I got better - is that thoughtful or WHAT!

No surprise since it was from my downline, Marilyn Carr, one of the nicest and most caring people I know.  I know I was sick so it made me vulnerable but I actually started to cry because I was so touched by her kindness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this was in the other pouch...a Birthday card in the style I love - vintage!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much everyone for your well wishes!

Happy Stamping,

Alison

Flower Garden Class by Mail

 

The beautiful garden-inspired DP is an amazing backdrop for these four lovely cards and matching card purse! When you add in the Flower Garden embossing folder on the front of each card  you have a match made in heaven!   

This class is a stamp by mail option - you provide the stamps, adhesives and inks and I send you all the pre-cut materials and embellishments along with full-colour, step by step instructions.  You make them on your own time!

Class is $25 plus postage (if required)

If you purchase $50 or more during August the class instructions are FREE and will be delivered to your email address in pdf format.

Happy Stamping!

Alison

Designer Paper Special & Product Share!

During August, get a FREE package of Stampin’ Up!’s® exclusive Designer Series Paper—a 25% savings—when you buy three! Choose from a wide variety of designs and colours available in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue. Find a Designer Series Paper for every crafting occasion, every crafting project, and every creative mood. If you love all of the Designer Papers and want a sample of each one please join my Product Share. You'll receive a 6 x 6 piece of EVERY Designer Paper on pages 183-186 plus a 6 x 6 piece of the In Colour Paper Stack papers too! That's 120 sheets of 6 x 6 paper! I find this size perfect for card making and if I find I love a particular pattern I can order that package on it's own. Purchasing this paper individually would cost over $300 but if you join my Product Share your cost is just 38! Postage will be extra if required. There is only room for 8 participants so email me today to reserve your spot in the share.               Pick & Click Your Favourites Below     Alison Solven Sr. Instructor alisonsolven@telus.net asolven.stampinup.net (604) 540-5033

More Cards...

Hello Stampers,

More cards and gifts for my Birthday and recovery!

 

 First up....a fun and "happy" card from my customer, Sonya Lore.  I LOVE the way she used Circle Circus - each of the circles is embossed to give it the WOW factor.  Sonya told me how she did the "happy" but I can't remember - flu brain!  Maybe she'll see the card and post the answer in the comments??

This card has so many fabulous colours - reminds me of bright summer days and popsicles!

 

 

 

 

This is from my dear downline and incredible assisant, Farah Byrne.

I love the way the Manhattan Flower embossing folder has been cut out to reveal a space for the greeting. 

I can't believe how crisp Farah got the "wish big" greeting to stamp.  Perfect!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check this out!  OMG it's phenominal and is from my downline, Alicja Krysiuk.

This purse is an exact replica of the Founder's Circle purse we received at Convention.  Check out the chain with the ribbon and even the "Stampin' Up" logo on the front.

This blew me away - not just for the creative brilliance but for the warm thoughts that it represents!

 

WOWZA!

More in my next post...

Happy Stamping,

Alison